Policies that push people out of our streets

“The mentality and policies promoted by PLPN over the years, and the car-centric policies implemented by Labour more recently means that our road infrastructure and electoral proposals promote traffic, speeding and push people off our streets.” This was stated by ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson and candidate on the 4th and 9th districts Carmel Cacopardo in a statement in which he also explained ADPD’s insistence that streets become people friendly.

Cacopardo reiterated that wherever one looks, whether on the coast, or in our town and villages, pavements have been taken over by commercial interests. For government, pavements are seen as a commercial space rather than the – often little and not enough – space where people can feel safe on our roads. Pavements have become a series of ups-and-downs, once again to accommodate garages and cars. Walking on most pavements has become risky!

ADPD – The Green Party Secretary General and candidate on the 7th and 11th districts Dr Ralph Cassar said that to all this you just have to add abusive parking on pavements, among other traffic offenses. In this context, ADPD does not understand the populist move by the Nationalist Party, which is proposing an amnesty for those who commit a traffic offence unless they commit another offence six months later. The fact that the PN is making such a ridiculous proposal shows the level to which some parties stoop in Malta.

Cassar reiterated that the rush to be seen as some benevolent ‘Father Christmas’ before the election is even leading to proposals that are dangerous to road users. “What we need on our roads,” Cassar said, “is to increase discipline to ensure the safety of road users, those walking, pushing pushchairs and prams, jogging, cycling or using a scooter. We do not need proposals which continue to encourage an already dire situation. People’s lives cannot be endangered on the altar of convenience and populism. ”

Carmel Cacopado concluded that the result of these policies is that persons with disability, especially those who use wheelchairs, as well as parents with children and joggers are forced to use the road instead of the pavement. Safety on the road itself must also be ensured by serious enforcement on speeding. “Our right to enjoy our public spaces in towns and villages is being eroded by the hour,” Cacopardo concluded. “ADPD – The Green Party works to reclaim the streets.”

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Politika li timbotta n-nies f’nofs ta’ triq

“Bil-mentalità u l-politika tal-PLPN tul is-snin u bil-gass mal-pjanċa tal-Ministri tal-Partit Laburista, Malta ntliet b’infrastruttura u proposti li jimbuttaw in-nies f’nofs ta’ triq”.  Dan qalu ċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD – The Green Party u kandidat fuq ir-raba’ u d-disa’ distrett Carmel Cacopardo fi stqarrija li fiha ġie spjegat ukoll l-insistenza ta’ ADPD biex it-toroq jerġgħu jingħataw lura lin-nies.

Cacopardo tenna li tħares fejn tħares, mhux biss fejn il-kosta imma anke fl-irħula u l-ibliet, il-bankini intlew b’siġġijiet u mwejjed li qed joħonqu d-dritt ta’ min irid jgħaddi minn fuq il-bankina. Dan juri li għall-amministrazzjoni tal-pajjiż, il-bankini saru spazju kummerċjali iktar milli jedd għas-sigurta` ta’ min irid juża t-triq.  Din il-politika li tiffavorixxi kollox barra n-nies, hija konfermata anke mill-mod kif jibqgħu jsiru l-bankini.  Dawn saru sensiela ta’ tlajja’ u nzul biex jakkomodaw il-karozzi li jkunu jridu jiddaħħlu jew jinħarġu mill-garaxxijiet.  “Tgħaddi minn fuq dawn il-bankini tirriskja li tilwi jekk mhux tikser saqajk”, kompla Cacopardo. 

Is-Segretarju Ġenerali u kandidat fuq is-seba’ u l-ħdax-il distrett, Dr Ralph Cassar qal li ma dan jiżdied ukoll l-abbuż ta’ min jipparkja fuq bankini, fost kontravenzjonijiet oħra fit-triq.  F’dan il-kuntest, ADPD ma tifhimx il-mossa populista tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, li qed jipproponi amnestija għal dawk li jagħmlu kontravenzjoni fit-toroq tagħna, sakemm ma jagħmlux kontravenzjoni oħra sa sitt xhur wara. 

Cassar tenna li l-ġirja biex nidhru sbieħ qabel l-elezzjoni qed iwassal saħansitra biex isiru proposti li huma ta’ inkonvenjent lil ħaddiehor jekk mhux ukoll potenzjalment ipoġġu l-ħajja ta’ ħaddiehor fil-periklu.  “Li għandna bżonn fit-toroq tagħna”, tenna Cassar, “huwa li tiżdied id-dixxiplina biex is-sigurta` ta’ min juża t-triq, bil-mixi, bil-pushchair, pram, jogging, bir-rota jew bl-iscooter, tkun assigurata, u mhux proposti li jagħtu l-impressjoni li kollox jgħaddi.  Il-ħajja tan-nies ma tistax tiġi perikolata fuq l-artal tal-konvenjenza u l-populiżmu.”

Carmel Cacopado temm jgħid li r-rżultat ta’ din il-politika qed twassal biex persuni b’diżabilita` specjalment dawk li jużaw siġġu bir-roti, kif ukoll ġenituri bit-tfal u persuni jagħmlu jogging jiġu sfurzati juzaw it-triq flok is-sigurta` tal-bankini. Anke s-sigurtà mal-ġenb u fit-triq għandha tkun assigurata permezz ta’ infurzar serju fuq il-veloċità. “Id-dritt sagrosant li ingawdu l-ispazji tagħna qed jitnaqqar bis-sigħat”, temm jghid Cacopardo.  “ADPD taħdem biex it-toroq tagħna jitreġġgħu lura lin-nies”.

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